The Hague: Europe and the Arabs

Egyptian Ambassador Emad Hanna received Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Bilal, Executive Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), at the embassy in The Hague, Netherlands. The two discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation between Egypt and the Fund.

Ambassador Hanna praised the vital role the Fund plays in supporting developing economies and promoting sustainable development, whether through providing financial and technical support to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural sector, or by advancing South-North partnerships. He also highlighted the tangible progress Egypt has made in developing the infrastructure supporting this sector, including streamlining procedures, improving the business environment, and expanding access to finance, which contributes to enabling these projects to grow and thrive. This information was reported on the Egyptian Embassy's social media accounts.

For his part, Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Bilal expressed his eagerness to expand and develop cooperation frameworks with Egypt, emphasizing Egypt's pivotal role as an active member of the Fund and its extensive experience in supporting the SME sector. The meeting addressed ways to strengthen the partnership between the two sides by supporting project financing mechanisms that contribute to achieving sustainable development, particularly initiatives targeting small farmers and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This followed the attendance of Ambassador Emad Hanna, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to The Hague, at the 14th annual meeting of the Netherlands-Africa Business Council (NABC). The meeting was attended by several heads of African diplomatic missions accredited to the Netherlands, representatives from the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs, representatives from some government financing institutions, and a number of Dutch companies operating in Africa or seeking to explore cooperation opportunities with African countries.

On the sidelines of the event, which was attended by representatives from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and the Netherlands Agency for International Development (VNO), the Ambassador held separate sectoral meetings with the heads and representatives of Dutch companies interested in exploring business opportunities in the Egyptian market. These companies' areas of interest spanned a range of strategic sectors, including maritime services, shipping, logistics, and dredging, as well as companies specializing in investment fund management and industries such as building materials, organic fertilizers, animal feed, and modern water management technologies for irrigation and agriculture.

This event is one of the most prominent annual gatherings that facilitates direct communication between the diplomatic community in The Hague and the Dutch business sector, supporting investment. It serves as an effective platform for exploring opportunities, sharing ideas, and reviewing developments in the investment climate and economic situation in African countries, particularly Egypt, thus contributing positively to attracting more Dutch direct investment.